Garth Popple, executive officer of We Help Ourselves, a non-government drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre in Sydney, said consecutive governments had failed to invest in meaningful drug support services.

"We've got to ask some of the hard questions as why there hasn't been any increase in beds," he said.

"Unfortunately, if you don't get a bed when you're ready, you move onto the next drug and you could be lost out there again for another month, years — if at all you get back."

Mr Popple said without more investment, things would only get worse.

"There's got to be a better focus on the government, and I mean both [state and federal] governments, to actually start saying 'it's time'," he said.

"The Americans got caught out by not investing in infrastructure for their people who are suffering from drug use. You can't keep expecting private rehabs to pick up the tab."

'Heroin is coming back'

Recovering addict Luke first started using substances at the age of 10, and used heroin for the first time at 13.

He used it to numb painful childhood memories, even though it killed his partner and lots of his friends.

24-hour telephone counselling

In an effort to get clean, Luke became a temporary resident at We Help Ourselves.

The facility has several sections, including one for men, one for women, halfway-houses, and a section that either helps addicts get off methadone — or helps them to manage it if it is deemed that they cannot be taken off it.

With the exception of the last section, the facility is drug-free, which is fairly unusual for a rehab centre.

Luke has been working hard to get clean, but also has a warning for authorities.

"For me personally, I'm pretty aware that the heroin is coming back like it used to be in the '90s," he said.

"The quality's risen and police are kicking in ice dealers' doors, whereabouts heroin is not getting targeted like it used to.

"I believe Australia's going to see a huge uprise in heroin overdoses in the next 10 to 15 years."